IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide (3rd Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this book used. The seller said it had some damage to the cover. The book came in like new condition and even include the unopened supplemental student disk.

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The only Cisco authorized textbook that for the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course from the Cisco Networking Academy Program New Companion Guide format complements the online curriculum with insight and instruction from Academy instructors A portable reference that supports all the topics in the new course, aligning 1:1 with course modules Features improved readability, enhanced topic explanations, real-world examples, and all new graphical presentations Alignment to A+ objectivesThe IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide supplements and complements the IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software v4.0 online curriculum offered by the Cisco Networking Academy Program. The Companion Guide is designed as a supplemental textbook for the Networking Academy course, offering students a portable desk reference of the course content to use anytime anywhere as a study aid. The chapter content aligns 1:1 to the online course module topics, but does not merely mimic the content word-for-word. The authors present the course material in the Companion Guide in a comprehensive manner, providing their own examples where necessary to augment a student's understanding of the course material.Chapter Objectives as stated as questions at beginning of each chapter Key terms listed in the Chapter openers Enhanced readability for younger student comprehension How To Feature provides step-by-step tasks for common activities Key concept recaps, Check Your Understanding Questions, and next chapter previews are in a concise summary at the end of each chapterThe Companion Guide serves as an additional instructional tool for the instructor to assign take-home reading or give vocabulary quizzes to better prepare the students for in-class lab assignments.

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Build It. Fix It. Own It: A Beginner's Guide to Building and Upgrading a PC Review

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(More customer reviews)If a 63 year old retiree can do, so can you... with this book.
Building your own desktop is only slightly more difficult than lego blocks. If you read this book, you will see that the biggest problem you will have is your own greed for speed when you realize you can do it. While this book does not cover Intel's new I7, this book has chapters on numerous "builds" that convey how the building processes are 95% identical, so you can go on to a build using the (extraordinary!) I7 with confidence.
Numerous no-name computer assembler online sites specify their exact components: comparisons using (the essential) Newegg's prices show 50% margins -- all this $$ is yours if you have patience, can do lego blocks, and read this book and "Build your own desktop" blogs carefully. Trying to figure out Microsoft Word's formatting options is 10 times more difficult. Honest.
I have purchased 20+ Dell's and HP's over the years for myself and my children, and can say that the PC companies' product designs and especially their so-called "service" fail miserably to justify their 75% margins, and things are getting worse.
"Build a PC" by Scott Mueller is good as a second book (there are no others that are remotely up to date).
For what it is worth, I do not know either author, nor have I ever corresponded with either.


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BUILD IT. FIX it. OWN IT.A Beginner's Guide to Building and Upgrading a PCBuild It. Fix It. Own It. is the ultimate beginner's guide to building and fixing your own PC. With a friendly, knowledgeable tone, this book shows the beginning PC builder everything he or she needs to know to build a computer or upgrade an existing one. We step you through the parts that lurk inside a PC, from the motherboard and power supply to the CPU, memory, hard drive, video card, sound card, and networking hardware. In each case, you will learn how the hardware works, what it does, what types of hardware are available, and what to look for when buying the hardware.Then we walk you step-by-step though a series of PC building projects. We show you how to build five different types of PC: a basic business PC, a home theater PC, a high-performance PC, a killer gaming PC, and a budget PC. And if building a new PC from scratch isn't in your budget, we show you how to resurrect an old PC by swapping out a few key components.When you have your PC built and running, we show you how to set up a wireless network and the BIOS and maintain your new rig.Build It. Fix It. Own It. is the ultimate PC builder's guide, even if you've never ventured inside a PC case before!Author BioPaul McFedries is one of the industry's most well known and respected technical writers and is a passionate computer tinkerer. He is the author of more than 70 computer books that have sold more than three million copies worldwide. His recent titles include the Sams Publishing books Windows Vista Unleashed and Windows Home Server Unleashed and the Que Publishing books Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista, Formulas and Functions with Microsoft Excel 2007, Tricks of the Microsoft Office 2007 Gurus, and Microsoft Access 2007 Forms, Reports, and Queries. Paul also is the proprietor of Word Spy (www.wordspy.com), a website devoted to tracking new words and phrases as they enter the English language.Category HardwareCovers PC HardwareUser Level Beginner—Intermediate

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Ubuntu for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Get-Things-Done Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)I have toyed occasionally with both Red Hat and Ubuntu over the years, but I definitely meet the definition of "non-geek." Installing these operating systems before always required some degree of struggle, and not uncommonly (especially with some earlier distros) I would simply fail. But that has changed. The current 8.04 version of Ubuntu partnered with this book is frankly outstanding.
First, a word about the operating system: this Ubuntu distro, code-named Hardy Heron, may well be the one that has finally made Linux as easy as Windows. I had always previously laughed at such claims from Linux enthusiasts, but this distro impresses me. It is the one that may at last enable me to defenestrate completely. And this guidebook is the perfect match, using normal language. One thing that it does very well is explaining what the few text commands that it uses actually do, instead of just instructing the reader to type it into the command line and leaving you wondering what exactly those "magic words" meant. There is a single short chapter about using the command line, but 99% of what the guidebook leads you through uses the GUI, so if the command line intimidates you never fear.
I installed Ubuntu 8.04 dual-boot with Windows XP on my laptop effortlessly. Not a single thing went awry. The new partitioning tool that is used during the installation is a great improvement over those in any of the (few) other Linux distros I've seen. The book follows step by step. My laptop is about 4 years old, so I am sure that a newer laptop may have hardware that is not as well supported and effortless. But on mine everything just worked, including my wireless internet.
Though they are enthusiastic, sometimes getting an understandable answer from the Linux community can be challenging. I had always struggled through installing Linux software before, especially if I needed to compile it myself. In fact, I can count my successful compilations on one hand. I never knew that GUI-based tools like Synaptic Package Manager or GNOME App Install were available to make it all so easy (assuming that a deb package is available, as there usually is) and again the book walks you through flawless examples. One example used for software installation is a program to automatically detect and load a driver for any ATI or NVIDIA graphics card- something which has historically been very difficult on Linux systems
My biggest criticism- and it wasn't enough to cost half a star or anything like that- is that the CD included with the book only has the i386 version of Ubuntu. If you want the 64-bit version you have to download it and burn the ISO to disc. (In fairness, the i386 version will load and run on a 64-bit machine, but only in 32-bit mode.) One of the reasons I bought this book was that I can't seem to pass the checksum when I downloaded the ISO, so now I am waiting for my disc from Canonical so that I can install Ubuntu on my desktop.
So, if you describe yourself as a "computer user" rather than a "computer geek," this is an outstanding book. If you know enough to know that Ubuntu exists then you almost certainly possess the minimal computer savvy required to use this book. I know that this review sort of morphed into a review of Ubuntu in addition to the book, but it is difficult to separate them. Suffice to say, the book walks you step-by-step through multiple examples of everything that you have to do. It also explains such details as what the differences are between the various file formats in which Open Office Word Processor can save documents. Almost all of such important minutiae are covered.
EDIT:
I wanted to respond to the 3-star review by Domestic Wolverine, which is the lowest rating that this book has gotten as of the time I am writing this. Mr Wolverine noted, correctly, that this book made certain assumptions about it's readers: It assumes, for example, that one knows what a computer is, knows (generally) how to use a mouse, and has at least encountered a GUI (windows with a lower-case w) in the past. This is an accurate description of the book. However, I do not feel that it is a valid CRITICISM of the book. It is, after all, titled "Ubuntu for Non-Geeks" rather than "Ubuntu for Hermits Who Have Lived in a Cave for the Past Three Decades." Mr Wolverine has, correctly, pointed out that this book might start at a level of discussion about a millimeter beyond the comprehension of someone who, essentially, doesn't know what a computer is. But I must point out that such people were not the targeted demographic. Such a book targeting hermits would be a very different work, and much larger, and be cluttered with a LOT of space devoted to material that 99% of westerners would just skip over. I laud Mr Wolverine for conceding that, other than this one deficiency, the book rates 5 stars. But I think that the book hit its intended target demographic perfectly.

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30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius Review

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(More customer reviews)Simon Monk provides Arduino newbies a guide that goes way beyond "Getting Started With Arduino", yet deals with the subject in an easy to read, accessible format. His projects are also far more practical eg he deals with flashing a simple led (like every other Arduino text) but then scales this up to high power Luxeon leds in various different applications but based on similar circuitry. This lead me to adapting one of his circuits to a real-world interest of mine, involving led lamps.
I look forward to a sequel where he might take us into the (so far) murky world of timers and interrupts, an area not covered very well (yet) in the Arduino world.

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30 Ways to Have Some Computer-Controlled Evil Fun!
This wickedly inventive guide shows you how to program and build a variety of projects with the Arduino microcontroller development system. Covering Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, 30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius gets you up to speed with the simplified C programming you need to know--no prior programming experience necessary.
Using easy-to-find components and equipment, this do-it-yourself book explains how to attach an Arduino board to your computer, program it, and connect electronics to it to create fiendishly fun projects. The only limit is your imagination!
30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius:
Features step-by-step instructions and helpful illustrations
Provides full schematic and construction details for every project
Covers the scientific principles behind the projects
Removes the frustration factor--all required parts are listed along with sources

Build these and other devious devices:
Morse code translator
High-powered strobe light
Seasonal affective disorder light
LED dice
Keypad security code
Pulse rate monitor
USB temperature logger
Oscilloscope
Light harp
LCD thermostat
Computer-controlled fan
Hypnotizer
Servo-controlled laser
Lie detector
Magnetic door lock
Infrared remote

Each fun, inexpensive Evil Genius project includes a detailed list of materials, sources for parts, schematics, and lots of clear, well-illustrated instructions for easy assembly. The larger workbook-style layout and convenient two-column format make following the step-by-step instructions a breeze.
Make Great Stuff!TAB, an imprint of McGraw-Hill Professional, is a leading publisher of DIY technology books for makers, hackers, and electronics hobbyists.

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Linux All-in-One For Dummies Review

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(More customer reviews)I really only have one complaint about this book. Other than that, it's excellect. The book is intended for the almost newbie. That is someone who knows how to turn the machine on, knows that a mouse is a plastic thing with buttons instead of a furry thing in the pantry, and so forth.
The book is divided into eight major subsections, or as the book says, 8 mini books. These are intended to be self standing so that if you want to set up an internet server you really only to read that particular book (but you may want to read a couple of others like the ones on administration and security).
Like a lot of Linux books, this one comes with a DVD disk, filled with lots of software (the DVD can hold a lot more data than a conventional CD). Or for $11 you can order a set of CD's that contain the Fedorea 3 Core distribution.
One point about the book I liked, he tells you how to make a partition to dual boot Windows and Linux. But he also comments that you might want to set up your experimental Linux system on a separate freestanding machine. This is clearly the way to go. I bought a computer at a thrift shop recently - 1 GHZ AMD Athlon - certainly not the hottest iron on the market, but it was only $75, including a 17" monitor. I've seen too many people screw up an installation and wipe out a hard drive to suggest that the newbie do a dual boot.
The problem I have with the book. He includes five flavors of Linux on the disk. In the first part of the book he goes a bit into the various distributions, but he never makes a solid recommendation. (There is a hint that this was the editors recommendation to get one book that would please the fans of any distribution.) If the newbie knows enough to say that he wants Debian or SUSE or Fedora, he probably doesn't need a For Dummies book. And the author does not say the advantages of the particular distributions, merely that they are here and here's how you install them.
By default the DVD loads Fedora, and that's fine. But in the installation section the author has to jump around a lot talking about the way the other distributions do things and it gets confusing. When you read the installation chapter, feel free to ignore what you aren't using.

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A complete guide and reference to five major Linux distributions
Linux continues to grow in popularity worldwide as a low-cost, reliable operating system for enterprise use. Nine minibooks in this guide cover everything administrators need to know about the five leading versions: Ubuntu, Fedora Core, OpenSUSE, Mint, and Mandriva. The companion DVD includes full Ubuntu installations and ISO images for the other four, saving hours of downloading time.
The open source Linux operating system is gaining market share around the world for both desktop and server use; this soup-to-nuts guide covers installation and everything else administrators need to know about Ubuntu, Fedora Core, OpenSUSE, Mint, and Mandriva
Nine self-contained minibooks cover Linux basics, desktops, networking, Internet, administration, security, Linux servers, programming, and scripting
Updated to cover the newest versions of the five top distributions, with complete installation instructions and a DVD including the full Ubuntu installations and ISO images for the others

Linux users and administrators will be able to install and sample five popular Linux flavors with the information in Linux All-in-One For Dummies.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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The Digital Photography Book, Volume 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I like Scott's first two volumes. But this one is lost in repetition, filler and useless information. I am not sure what kind of photographers' author is trying to target, typically it should be advanced photographers as it is 3rd volume. Some reviewers mentioned that it's good for beginners but I don't think so it contained some advance info and some very basic stuff and it also keep referring to 1st and 2nd volumes.
Good:
If you are product photographer then you have got some information in this book.
Bad:
Repetition Topics: A few examples...
1. Sharpest Aperture: We already discussed this in first two books and same info is shared as topic.
2. Wake up early in the morning.
3. Most of topics in Sports are already covered.
4. As usual screen shot of B&H Photo-Video site which is not relevant to that topic. Ohh wait! This time it's different page not homepage. Why do we require this site's pictures while author is trying to explain myth about card speed.
Filler: This is interesting. A few examples, these points are covered as full page topic in book.
1. There is separate whole topic on how to change lens. (May be in Vol-4, Scott will cover how to properly charge/install battery)
2. How to clean lenses.
3. Shortcut for formatting memory card.
4. Resetting camera setting.
Come on! These topics are covered in detail in operating manuals of every DSLR/Lens.
5. As usual too much advertising of websites and expensive gears.
I was expecting real professional info/tips and going beyond volumes 1 and 2, not the same information/filler. This book is certainly not for me. If you really want to get some interesting tips, you may want to check out `Understanding Exposure:...' by Bryan Peterson.


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Scott Kelby, author of The Digital Photography Book, volume 1 (the world's best-selling digital photography book of all time), is back with a follow-up to his volume 2 smash best seller, with an entirely new book that picks up right where he left off. It's even more of that "Ah ha—so that's how they do it," straight-to-the-point, skip-the-techno-jargon stuff you can really use today to make your shots even better.This book truly has a brilliant premise, and here's how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot and you asked me, 'Hey Scott, I want the light for this portrait to look really soft and flattering. How far back should I put this softbox?' I wouldn't give you a lecture about lighting ratios, or flash modifiers. In real life, I'd just turn to you and say, 'Move it in as close to your subject as you possibly can, without it actually showing up in the shot.' Well, that's what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned, just like I would with a friend—without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak."Each page covers a single concept on how to make your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you're tired of taking shots that look "okay," and if you're tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.This isn't a book of theory—full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With nearly 200 more of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade," this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.

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The Digital Photography Book, Volume 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)The digital photography handbook,
This is the most helpful book on digital photography I have seen in a while. Each page of the book has some scenario and a ways to work with is to get the best possible shot. It's also covers many different ways to overcome what ever adverse shooting situation you might be. Kelby Talks about cheap ways to overcome situations. He also talks about more expensive ways to overcome situations. On each subject where he discusses a scenario there are usually multiple photos to show you each effect of each solution will have on the photo. Each subject is covered very well in about two pages. The photography is outstanding and in color.
Kelby covers all types of digital photography from portraiture to landscape, lighting flashes, different types of digital cameras.
Kelby covers using a flash, building a studio from scratch, shooting portraits like a pro, shooting landscapes like a pro, shooting weddings like a pro, shooting travel like a pro, shooting macro like a pro, pro tips for getting photos and more photo recipes to help you get the shot. All of these subject are covered very well.
The book is written in an easy to understand, easy to read and with some humor. Each topic is about one page in length.
I consider myself to me an intermediate photographer and I can say that this is and continue to be very helpful to me. I This is a must for the beginner to intermediate photographer. The book is small enough to carry in your camera equipment bag. This book is packed with information and extremely helpful tips.

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CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exams 220-701 & 220-702) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had received the CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide for xmas because the All-in-One Exam Guide wasn't available yet. Well, I gave up on the Complete Study Guide after I was 1/3 the way through and ordered Meyer's version as I saw that it had become available on Amazon. What can I say? The guy is such a great teacher and the book is very well laid out and easy to understand, relying on plenty of analogies and diagrams. You get the feeling that you are in a classroom listening to your favorite teacher; Mikes methods of teaching are pleasantly informal, and he seems to have the formula for mixing professionalism and humor down to a tee.

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Get complete coverage of the latest release of the CompTIA A+ exams inside this fully revised and updated resource. Written by the leading authority on CompTIA A+ certification and training, this expert guide covers CompTIA A+ exams 220-701 and 220-702. You'll find learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, exam tips, practice exam questions, in-depth explanations, and more than 1,000 photographs and illustrations. Designed to help you pass the CompTIA A+ exams with ease, this definitive volume also serves as an essential on-the-job IT reference.
Covers all exam objectives, including how to:

Work with CPUs, RAM, motherboards, power supplies, and other PC components
Install, partition, and format hard drives
Install, upgrade, and troubleshoot WIndows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista
Troubleshoot PCs and implement security measures
Install video and multimedia cards
Work with portable PCs, PDAs, smartphones, and wireless technologies
Manage printers and connect to networks and the Internet
Understand safety and environmental issues
Establish good communication skills and adhere to privacy policies

The CD-ROM features:

Practice exams for 701 & 702
600+ chapter review questions
New video introduction to CompTIA A+
One-hour video training segment
Mike's favorite PC tools and utilities
Searchable e-book

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Home Networking All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies Review

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(More customer reviews)Excellent guide for someone new to networking that wants to setup a network at home includes wired,wireless and hybrid networks and guide the reader through building, maintaining and securing their network 5 stars

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If your household harbors more than one computer, you've probably wondered about home networking. Maybe you've gone so far as to start setting up a network and given up in frustration. Well, now you can relax. Home Networking All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies has come to the rescue!
A network will make your life easier, and Home Networking All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies makes it easier to create one. It shows you how to choose the right hardware, add user accounts, get different operating systems to work together, secure your network, exchange files, add wireless devices, and even use Wi-Fi out in public. Seven individual, self-contained minibooks cover:
What a network will do for you, including a low-tech explanation of how it works
Choosing a network type that will work best for your needs, and planning what equipment you'll need
Installing and configuring your computers and networking gear
Upgrading your equipment with the manufacturer's updates
The ins and outs of using particular versions of operating systems — Windows, Mac, and Linux — with your network
Step-by-step directions on connecting to networks, sharing files and printers, checking connection status, and much more
Discovering networking accessories and gadgets to get the most out of your network
Finding and using Wi-Fi hotspots, plus setting up your own

You'll even find troubleshooting tips to help find and fix common problems. Home Networking All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies will be your personal network assistant!

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Droid 2 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am writing this review for those who are not already smartphone users (which includes me). Perhaps the most important thing to point out is that this book is intended to serve as a reference, not necessarily to be read cover-to-cover, which at over 300 pages might seem like a lot to have to plow through. Thankfully, each chapter is self-contained, so you can jump around to find those that are best suited to addressing your interests.
Basically, I found this book easy to read, nicely illustrated (with color photographs), and definitely informative. (The author has written many books on technology topics, including the very first "For Dummies" book--on DOS--way back in 1991.) The book is organized in six parts:
Part I: Droid 2: The Sequel. This is your basic introduction and familiarization.
Part II: Phone 101. How to use your Droid 2 as a phone.
Part III: Beyond Telephone Communications. Text messaging, sending and receiving emails, web browsing, social media, networks.
Part IV: More than a Mere Mortal Cell Phone. Addresses other things you can do, such as find locations on a map, get verbal driving directions, shoot videos, and play music and games.
Part V: Hither and Thither. Using your phone overseas, making international calls, customizing for maintenance and troubleshooting.
Part VI: The Part of Tens. A traditional end for "For Dummies" books. Tips, tricks, things to remember, and some of the author's favorite apps.
In short, although even an experienced smartphone user might find some useful information and tips in this book, I am not sure these users would find the book worth the time, effort or price. However, if you are new to smartphones (and if you just got a Droid 2), then this book is well written, easy to use and sufficiently complete to merit your careful consideration. I am glad to have it.


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Find out what your Droid 2 does with this indispensable, full-color reference!
The highly anticipated arrival of the Droid 2 runs on the latest version of Google's mobile operating system and boasts a suite of apps that wirelessly synchronize with Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Maps, and Microsoft Exchange. Ultimate For Dummies author Dan Gookin shows you how to maximize the performance of your Droid 2 smartphone in his unique fun-and-friendly manner, holding your hand the entire way. Sure, the basics of setup and configuration are covered, but you'll also explore texting, e-mailing, accessing the Internet, using maps and navigation, syncing with a PC, and more. Gookin's accessible and fun writing style strikes a perfect balance for explaining important content in a way that is easily digestible.
Delves into the basics and beyond by covering the new and exciting Droid 2
Shows you how to set up and configure your Droid 2
Walks you through texting, e-mailing, accessing the Internet, synching with a PC, using maps and navigation, shooting pictures and video, and more
Explains how to expand the phone's potential with cool apps from the Android Market
Encourages you to refer to the various fun-but-straightforward chapters as you explore the exciting new features of your Droid 2 phone

Don't be left in the dark with what the new Droid does—dive into the full-color Droid 2 For Dummies today!

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Pro Android 3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a really good book on Android development.
I have been extensively programming in java for a few years. Recently
I was reading about a CIO summit in our area and each of the CIOs talked about
how significant the new mobile devices are for banking, transportation
and healthcare.
I wanted to see how to quickly gain expertise in the mobile space to
my already well established enterprise skills.
This book has pointed out that I can be up and running with Android
very quickly even without buying a single android device. I could walk
through almost all the examples of this book through the emulator.
I also like the fact that most of the chapters (except for a couple at
the begining) are stand alone. Each chapter has working examples that
have been specifically developed for that chapter with few
pre-requisites. I am able to download the zip files for each chapter
so that I can import them directly into eclipse. Then I am able to
read through the chapter and look at the working example
simultaneously to make the most of it.
If you look at the google android developer website you see that
android offers an extensive set of APIs. I do find the android
documentation on the android site very good. However I needed a book
that is a bit more organized and take me from concept to concept in a
meaningful manner.
By comparison I can see that this book covers a number of android
basic features that include intents, resources, menus, dialogs,
controls, services, security, preferences, activities, and content
providers. Some of these concepts are very unique to Android. The
authors have gone into a lot of detail while covering these topics. I
must say this strengthened my appreciation of Android as a full
fledged programming platform.
I am also very pleased with the coverage of Android internals that
include processes, threads, handlers, asynchronous tasks, broadcast
receivers, wake locks, long running services, notification manager
etc.
I have always wanted to see what it means to program in opengl. This
book provides an excellent introduction to opengl including the opengl
es 2.0. Be warned though that this is not an extensive guide on
OpenGL. You may have to buy a 500 page book just to do justice to all
the intricacies of OpenGL. This book does have references to further
material that you can read on OpenGL. The animation chapter is really
fun to read. The other advanced topics covered include maps,
telephony, sensors, media.
The coverage on the contacts api is extensive and good.
It is really surprising how quickly this book was released with
coverage for tablets only after a month or two of the honeycomb
release.
Finally for a senior programmer this book goes into how to dive into
the android sdk source code right in the introductory chapter. I found
this really useful when I am not sure how a particular functionality
works when the SDK documentation is not clear.
As I have listed so many things this book covers it is fair to list a
few things that it does not cover. Game programmign is not covered at
all. Live Wall Paper topic is not covered. If you are thinking of
using Bluetooth API to write cool applications it is not covered
either.
But I am really happy with the book because I am able to gain a broad
picture of the Android SDK. I am able to understand its architecture.
I am able to explore its advanced APIs. I am left with a lot
references to supporting material in each chapter.
Excellent in all and all.
Oh, one more thing! The supplemental website that supports this book
androidbook.com seem to contain a lot of the working notes of authors
in addition to their future research on Android SDK.

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Pro Android 3 shows you how to build real-world and fun mobile applications using the new Android 3.0 SDK. It covers everything from the fundamentals of building apps for embedded devices, phones, and tablets to advanced concepts such as custom 3D components and multi-tasking. Using the tutorials and expert advice, you'll quickly be able to build cool mobile apps and run them on dozens of Android-based smartphones. You'll explore and use the Android APIs, including those for media and sensors. And you'll check out what's new with Android 3.0, including the improved UI across all Android platforms, integration with services, and more, giving you the knowledge to create stunning, cutting-edge apps, while keeping you agile enough to respond to changes in the future. What you'll learn
How to use Android to build Java-based mobile applications for Google phones with a touch screen or keyboard
How to design and implement irresistible user interfaces for touchscreens with Views and layouts
How to populate your application with data from data sources, using Content Providers
How to create 3D graphics with OpenGL and custom components
How to build multimedia and game apps using Android's Media APIs and OpenGL
How to use Android's location-based services, network-based services, and security
How to use new Android 3.0 features, such as Fragments and the ActionBar
Who this book is forThis book is for professional software engineers/programmers looking to move their ideas and applications into the mobile space with Android. It assumes a passable understanding of Java, including how to write classes and handle basic inheritance structures. Table of Contents
Introducing the Android Computing Platform
Setting up your Development Environment
Understanding Resources
Understanding Content Providers
Understanding Intents
Building User Interfaces and Using Controls
Adding Menus
Implementing Dialogs
Working with Preferences and Saving State
Security and Permissions
Working with Services
Exploring Packages, Processes, and Library Projects
Exploring Processes, Components, Threads, and Handlers
Exploring Broadcast Receivers and Long Running Services
Exploring the Alarm Manager
Unveiling 2D Animation
Exploring Maps and Location Services
Using the Telephony APIs
Understanding the Media Frameworks
Programming 3D Graphics with OpenGL
Exploring Live Folders
Home Screen Widgets and Live Wallpaper
Android Search
Exploring Text to Speech and the Google Translate API
Touchscreens
Using Sensors
Understanding the Contact API
Deploying your Application: Android Market and Beyond
Fragments
Action Bar
Selected Topics in Android 3.0

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ASUS Eee PC For Dummies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In short, this is a quite good book for teaching you the basics of how to get more out of your Linux based Eee. If you bought - or are planning to buy - a Eee with WinXP preinstalled, there are probably better guides to buy than this one.
In not-so-short, this book is a good buy for having an off line reference for using the software that ships with the Linux Eee, how to set your Eee up to suit your needs and how to perform a number of useful tweaks to improve the user experience... It is not, however, a definite guide to everything. On the contrary, the author willingly admits that there are much more information available - especially online - and helpfully provides a number of links to useful sites. More on that later, first some general remarks.
Eee PC for Dummies is written in an easy, accessible and informal style that I at least found easy to follow. It's laid out in a logical progression, starting with a short discussion on the various models of the Eee available when the book went into print, showing the reader how to start using the Eee and the installed software before moving onto more advanced topics.
The book is divided into six parts: Getting Started, Day to Day, Adding Software, Hardware and Accessories, Advanced Topics and Part of Tens.
In the Getting Started section, Eee PC for Dummies starts of by telling you what exactly an Eee is (ie: a normal laptop, only smaller and with less bells and whistles), what an Eee isn't (just as important) and which models are available. This is where the major downside of this book first rears it's ugly head: Asus changes the lineup of the Eee range so frequently that many models now in sale are not discussed, and a couple of the models discussed are no longer in sale. This sounds worse than it is though - apart from the listing of models in the first section this only pops up again in the more advanced topics towards the end of the book.
Further in the first section, the book shows you how to power on your Eee, how to use the admittedly non-standard interface it presents when first started, and vitally how to get connected with either a wireless or wired connection and sharing files over your home network. Perhaps critically so early in the book, it fails to mention some of the known pitfalls of wireless connections with the Eee - this is touched upon in the last part of the book however.
In the second section - Day to Day - pretty much every application installed on the Eee gets a fairly detailed description. Several tips and hints for how to use the software on a smaller than normal screen is given, which is quite useful. In this section the author has done a good job of balancing the needs of the readers; it's neither too high flying for someone just starting out with computers, nor to shallow for those who have several years of computer experience under their belts. This treatment is given not only to the serious applications - such as the web browser and the office suite - but also to the less serious programs like the various games and graphics editors that are installed. Some space in this section is given over to how to configure and customize the Eee with the preinstalled tools - useful, since it's not the same process as on a WinXP computer - and where to find help online when you have problems.
The office suite that comes with early model Eees - OpenOffice - are given two whole chapters - a logical choice since these are large and powerful programs. However, At least some of the newer model Eees have a different office suite - StarOffice - installed. It's worth noting that both office suits share a lot of common features and are based on the same code, so this shouldn't turn potential buyers away from the book.
This section is also the one part of the book where WinXP on the Eee is discussed - briefly. Just ten pages are devoted to the topic, which covers the bare minimum of information. Again, if you bought or are planning to buy an Eee with WinXP installed, this may not be the best book for you.
The third section covers adding extra software to the Eee. It starts off sensible by explaining how software installation works under Linux, discusses briefly the Add/Remove utility that Asus installs on the Eee and the various package managers available. This can be considered the start of the more advanced part of the book - if you're happy with using the forty odd applications that comes with the Eee you can close the book when you reach this point and it'll still be money well spent.
While I miss a warning at this point, the author does a good job of explaining the various concepts and lays out easy to follow commands to find and install all sorts of software. A chapter on popular Linux programs gives the reader a quick teaser of what's out there for free. For balance the next chapter deals with free software for WinXP - this reads more as an afterthought and mostly list applications that are already installed from the factory on the Linux models.
The fourth part - Hardware and Accessories - are reasonable brief, but it covers the subject well. It shows how to add more memory - RAM - and storage easily, as well as giving a quick overview of other "much needed" accessories such as bags, spare batteries, chargers and so forth. The section is short and to the point, and contains lots of useful pointers to websites that carries accessories for the Eee.
The second to last section covers so called Advanced Topics. The first part of the section shows how to do backups and restore from them, usefully pointing out one of the reviewers favorite tools for doing this. It also shows how to restore your Eee to it's original state if - or perhaps when - you get too experimental with the software and end up breaking the system. Further on in the section the book explains how to enable the so called `Advanced Mode'; a more traditional desktop that is much the same as you'll find on any non-apple computer. The book also helpfully points out a few of the drawbacks with switching to this mode, but fails to suggest that a new user should back up his system before enabling it.
The section also contains an introduction to command line Linux, along with a list of common commands. Again this is presented in a clear and concise way, accessible for anybody, and does a good job of demystifying the command line. Another useful chapter in this section deals with how to customize the user interface, both from the command line and by using several tools created by users. The book shows how to add and remove icons and tabs from the basic interface, as well as other helpful tweaks that in the opinion of the reviewer does much to improve the usability of the Eee.
The last part - Part of Tens - covers two things: troubleshooting and essential places on the internet.
Overall, it's a book well worth considering even if you feel that you know how to use a computer and have bought - or are planning to buy - an Eee with Linux. It does, as mentioned, have a couple of shortfalls; mainly because Asus keeps changing the lineup and the applications installed. For the most part this is of little consequence, but in the section on advanced topics there are several pitfalls directly relating to this issue - for instance are the configuration files for the desktop kept in a different folder on newer Eees than the book states when it comes to customizing the desktop. However, the author throughout the book points the reader to where more information is found, and an enterprising reader will quickly go to the source to find out more.

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What can you do with your Eee PC? Find out how to get the most from this mini-laptop with Asus Eee PC For Dummies. It shows you how to get things done—using the Linux operating system and applications, navigating the tabbed desktop, adding hardware and software, backing up and restoring the Eee PC, and more.
You'll learn how to set up Windows, take advantage of all the pre-installed software, ensure that your computer is secure, and even run your Eee PC on solar power. You'll find tips for configuring printers and changing touchpad settings, techniques for making Skype phone calls and listening to Internet radio, and advice for adding storage and peripherals. It also helps you:
Take full advantage of this exciting, ultra-portable "netbook" PC
Set up your wireless connection
Make free Skype phone calls and video calls
Use OpenOffice.org, Thunderbird e-mail, Mozilla Firefox, and other included applications
Use the versatile OpenOffice productivity suite, including Writer for word processing, Calc for spreadsheets, and Impress for presentations
Compare the advantages of Windows vs. Linux
Discover the science, language, math, and art functions that kids can enjoy on the Eee
Enjoy built-in games, watch videos, play music, organize and view photos, and more
Boost storage and memory with SD cards and USB drives, go Bluetooth, and add a GPS
Get the scoop on backups, explore the advanced desktop, and customize the user interface

The Eee PC makes it simple to surf the Web, play games, work, and more. Asus Eee PC For Dummies makes it easier!

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Networking All-in-One For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A good book for the novice networking student. Lots of real-world, practical info and examples. Author effectively injects humor occasionally to keep dry information interesting and improve the learning experience.

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The ultimate reference guide for network administrators
Network administrators now have a single, convenient place to turn for all the information they need. Networking All-in-One For Dummies, 4th Edition is like ten books in one, covering such topics as networking basics, network security, setting up TCP/IP and connecting to the Internet, handling mobile devices, and much more. This valuable book covers all the newest updates and trends, including Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
A single-source reference for network administrators
Includes ten minibooks: Networking Basics; Building a Network; Network Administration and Security; TCP/IP and the Internet; Wireless Networking; Telecom, Convergence, and Mobile Devices; Windows Server 2008 Reference; Using Other Windows Servers; Linux Networking Reference; and Appendices
Explores the latest technologies in broadband, storage, and back-up
Delves into new trends in networking and includes the latest Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 updates

System administrators will want to keep this practical all-in-one guide within reach.

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Wireless Home Networking For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is a terrific resource. I knew very little about networks or wireless accessing and just had wireless installed. We were up & running for less than a week before I lost my wireless connection. I LABORED over re-connecting for hours and then days. Pure torture. Even the ADSL guys (as well as the Linksys-router folks) couldn't help us. Finally, I found this book and read it cover to cover. Within 10 minutes of finishing it, I was reconnected, AND I now understand so much about how this system works. Reading this book prior to having wirless installed is like taking your driver's license test prior to driving alone. (And the humor is always uplifting). I definitely would recommend this book!

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Pick the right equipment, secure your network, and share files
Share your Internet connection, access hot spots, and add on cool wireless peripherals
Thinking of going wireless? It's not as scary as it sounds! This fast and fun guidebook helps you decide what you need, install it, and get the most from all its cool options. Your PCs can share printers while you groove to your favorite MP3s and the family shares quality video game time - all from anywhere!
The Dummies Way
Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

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Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 4th Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My title may be misleading in that it may depict too much information. This is far from the truth. This book covers all aspect of a wireless network that's available. After reading this book, you'll walk away with a complete knowledge of how to create a wireless network. The contents is written in a manner most readers can understand. Technical terms are used but are explained using common terminology.
Having years of computer technical background, I found this book complete in it's information. This is the ideal book for anyone in the computer field. The only drawback in this book becomes clear if all you want to do is a simple task such as creating a wireless network to access the internet. In such a case, to a non technical reader, you would have to dig through countless pages to find what is needed.
I guess it comes down to if you want a book that shows you all aspects of a wireless network or a specific task. This book covers all of it.


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The perennial bestseller shows you how share your files and Internet connection across a wireless network
Fully updated for Windows 7 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard, this new edition of this bestseller returns with all the latest in wireless standards and security. This fun and friendly guide shows you how to integrate your iPhone, iPod touch, smartphone, or gaming system into your home network. Veteran authors escort you through the various financial and logisitical considerations that you need to take into account before building a wireless network at home.
Covers the basics of planning, installing, and using wireless LANs
Reviews essential information on the latest security issues
Delivers valuable tips on how to stay current with fast-moving technology
Discusses how to share resources such as printers, scanners, an Internet connection, files, and more with multiple computers on one network

Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 4th Edition skips the technical jargon and gets you connected with need-to-know information on building a wireless home network.

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